Economic Opportunities Program

Our People

Karen Elzey is the Director of Skills for America's Future. She brings more than 18 years of experience in the areas of workforce development, public-private partnerships, and project management to this role.

Karen's previous experience includes serving as vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for a Competitive Workforce, where she advanced policy positions and promoted public-private partnerships to ensure that businesses remained competitive in a global economy. Before joining the U.S. Chamber, Elzey coordinated public-private partnerships between K-12 school districts and employers for a local economic development agency in Indiana, and taught English as a Second Language in Poland.

Karen has a B.A. in American studies and a Master's in sports administration from Miami University (OH). She has also completed the Executive Leadership Program at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.

René Bryce-Laporte is the program manager for business outreach at Skills for America's Future. He brings 14 years of experience as an advocate, convener, moderator, technical assistance provider and director of multi-site programs advancing social and economic opportunity for low-wealth individuals in America to this role.

René's experience includes serving as Senior Associate at the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group working on asset-building, rural community development and collaborations with community foundations.

Prior to his arrival at Aspen, René served as Financial Education Specialist at the Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education, working with community-based financial education providers and public and private agencies. He also served as Senior Program Manager at CFED (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development). At CFED his positions included: Director of the American Dream Demonstration (ADD); Coordinator of the National IDA Learning Conference; Community Partner Liaison for the Savings for Education, Entrepreneurship and Downpayment (SEED) Initiative; and Manager of CFED's Microenterprise Policy Project.

René is a graduate of Columbia University and the UCLA School of Law.

Skills for America's Future
Advisory Board